South African activist who called Israel apartheid now leads pro-Israel outreach
Bafana Bi says a 2016 visit to Israel overturned assumptions he had embraced as a student activist and now works to bring South African leaders and communities to see the country firsthand
Bafana Bi, a 33-year-old South African activist, once believed Israel was an apartheid state. However, a 2016 visit to Israel changed his perspective. Bi claims he witnessed a reality different from his South African views, where Jews and Arabs coexist and participate in the political system. Since then, Bi has worked to promote Israel in South Africa, leading the Israel-is organization, which aims to dispel the apartheid comparison through personal encounters and human stories.
Bi's efforts include arranging advocacy delegations to South Africa, where he brings politicians, community leaders, and media representatives to interact with Israelis from various backgrounds. These delegations have reached over 1,300 attendees, showcasing diverse Israeli society to those primarily exposed to political and media narratives.
Despite South Africa's government adopting an anti-Israel stance, Bi asserts that most South Africans focus on domestic issues and do not view foreign policy as a central concern. Bi emphasizes that the country's Jewish community thrives, despite the media's portrayal of Israel, and that Jews are fully integrated into South African life.
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